Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has expressed his deepest gratitude to Pope Francis for his unwavering support and compassion towards the Middle East region. In a letter published in the Vatican’s “L’Osservatore Romano” newspaper, Cardinal Pizzaballa thanked the Pope for acknowledging the human suffering of all parties involved in the conflict, reminding us not to lose our humanity in these tragic circumstances.
The Latin Patriarch emphasized the need for empathy, love, and comfort in the face of deeply rooted hatred. He praised the bravery of priests, religious men and women, and volunteers who have risked their lives to provide relief and comfort to those in distress over the past year of war. Cardinal Pizzaballa reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to rebuilding broken relationships and trust between communities, resisting the “logic of evil” that seeks to divide.
Cardinal Pizzaballa concluded by expressing his hope that the “small remnant” of men and women who have forgiven and resisted hatred can provide a starting point for rebuilding relationships and creating authentic contexts of peace and respect.